Chapter One:

~3rd POV

The rain fell steadily over Konoha. There was a gloomy feel in the air, but it was quiet and peaceful. The streets were near bare, everyone having taken to staying indoors to stay dry. Few wandered around. Those who were out and about were the protectors of the village, the ninja of Konoha.

One group of these ninja were on their way to the Hokage's office.

"I don't know why you guys aren't more excited!" Tenten exclaimed. "We're getting a mission outside of the village."

"We've had missions like this before," Neji replied. "I can't imagine it'll be that much different."

Lee chuckled and looked back at his teammates. "Lighten up, Neji. It's been a while since we've gotten a mission outside the village." He stopped and posed triumphantly. "We must face this challenge and persevere! Isn't that right, Gai-sensei?!"

The team's teacher, Might Gai, gave his student a thumbs up with a sparkling white-toothed smile. "That's the spirit, Lee!"

Tenten and Neji walked past their teammate and sensei, a mutual agreement of the ridiculousness they are forced to endure.

"Let's get going," Neji huffed. "Lord Hokage is waiting for us."

The team arrived at the office and lined up next to each other. In front of them sat the leader of Konoha, the Lord Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Thank you all for coming," he said.

"You requested us for a special mission, Lord Hokage?" Gai asked.

"Indeed." Hiruzen stood and walked to the window. He watched as the gray skies cried over his village. While it gave him a sense of peace, he was deeply troubled. "This mission could be very dangerous for your team, Gai. Are your students prepared?" He turned to look at the three children.

Each one looked as determined as the other. Gai gained a sense of pride seeing his students ready to face the challenge ahead. "I believe they can handle it, sir."

Hiruzen nodded. "Good. Since becoming genin, you three have achieved the most progress and growth as a team. And with many of our chunin and jonin out on other missions, I am relying on you."

"Yes, sir!" they said.

"Lord Hokage, what is our mission?" Lee asked curiously.

"There have been reports from our patrols that there is a band of rogue ninja making their way around our land. Every time a patrol is sent to deal with them, they are already gone and on the move."

"If they're moving across the territory, is it really necessary to encounter them?" Tenten asked.

"A fair question, and normally we would only keep an eye on them until they leave. But these rogues concern me greatly." Hiruzen moved to stand in front of his desk, facing the team of genin. "Our reports indicate that this group of rogues is circling the village. We don't know what they are after, but they must be dealt with."

"Circling the village?" Gai repeated. "So they're retracing their steps."

"Indeed. But the pattern is eradicate, which makes it impossible for the patrols to predict where they will station next." Hiruzen looked directly at Neji. "I believe this is why your team is best suited."

"I understand," Neji said.

"We'll head out at once," Gai declared.

Just as the team was turning to leave, Hiruzen stopped them.

"There is one more thing, Gai," he said. Once he had their attention again, he continued. "Our most recent reports say these rogues have a prisoner with them. A girl. If these reports are correct, part of your mission is to bring her back to the village. I would like to speak to her myself."


Team Gai left the village swiftly, their mission running through each of their minds. As soon as they had passed the gates, Neji activated his Byakugan. As they ran the perimeter, Neji kept an eye out for the group of rogues.

"We should go to the last location the rogues were spotted," Tenten suggested.

"I agree," Lee said. "Even if they are no longer in that location, they may still be near it."

Gai nodded and veered to the left, his students following closely. They reached the last known location within minutes.

"Someone's definitely been here recently," Neji said, looking around. "There's indication that they've camped here."

"Can you see anything nearby?" Gai asked.

Neji looked around with his Byakugan. "No. They must be out of range of my Byakugan."

"They could've headed in any direction," Tenten groaned. "How are we gonna figure out which way to go?"

"Gai-sensei!"

The others turned and found Lee crouched near a tree.

"What is it, Lee?"

"I was looking for something that might tell us which way they went, and I found this."

Lee picked up a ribbon from the ground. It was white, nothing special about it. But there was something that caught everyone's attention.

"Is that…hair?" Tenten asked.

On closer inspection, the team could see long strands of blue hair tangled with the ribbon.

"Blue hair…" Neji narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized it closely.

Gai glanced at the Hyuga prodigy. He knew what Neji was thinking about.

"That's pretty unusual," Tenten voiced. "Not often you see someone with blue hair. And it's pretty long. You think it's the prisoner Lord Hokage told us about?"

"It's possible," Gai said.

"There's something else," Lee told them. He pointed at the ground. There was an indention in the dirt. "It looks sort of like an arrow."

Neji knelt down and inspected it. "Seems like someone tried to cover it up. But it's clear that it points north."

"So, she tried to leave a clue and someone caught her?" Tenten asked.

"She must have known about the patrols tracking them down," Neji concluded. He stood up. "I say we should get moving if we want to catch up with them."

Lee nodded and stood, giving the ribbon to Tenten for her to put in her pocket. The team took off, heading north. Neji took the lead, using his Byakugan once again in attempt to locate the rouge ninja group.

It only took a mere few minutes of racing through the trees for Neji to halt his team. They stopped near a small clearing. Kneeling behind some foliage, Team Gai peeked over to watch the figures mingling in the clearing.

Six ninja. There was no indication they were from any village, for none of them wore a headband or any sort of symbol to give such information.

"They outnumber us by two," Gai said. "We'll have to watch each other's backs."

"Look over there." The boys turned their gaze in the direction Tenten nodded to. "That has to be her."

A girl was laying on her side, facing away from them. Her light blue hair fanned over her body like a blanket. Her clothing was simple; a long, dirty white gown covered her, stopping at her knees. Her shoulders and feet were bare. Even from far away, the leaf ninja could see her body move with heavy breathing, and faint bruises scattered across her arms and legs.

"She's weak," Neji said. "They must have beaten her after discovering her clues."

"We have to get her out of there," Tenten said, pulling out a scroll.

Gai nodded. "Go."

With a high leap, Tenten unrolled her scroll and waved it in front of her. Once above the group of rogues, she sent a rain of weapons down upon them. Neji and Lee moved in, attacking their targets before the enemy could regain their composure from the surprise attack. Both excelling at taijutsu, they were easily able to dispatch two of the six rogues.

The rogues gathered themselves and glared at the leaf ninja.

"Who the hell are you?" one shouted.

"You rogues are on Leaf Village territory," Gai said. "I'm afraid you're not welcome here."

"They finally caught up to us," a second rogue scoffed.

"Stick to the plan," another said, seemingly the leader. "Leave the girl. She's dead weight at this point. Let's get out of here."

Before the genin and their sensei could stop them, the rogues fled. Only the girl and the two unconscious enemies stayed behind.

"We can head them off," Neji said. "Lee, you go ahead."

"Right!"

"Stop!"

The genin stopped their pursuit at the command of their sensei.

"But Gai-sensei!" Lee started.

"That's enough, Lee," he said sternly. "It's a fool's errand to wander on our territory any longer. If they remain here, the patrols will finish them. Right now, we need to attend to her." He nodded at the girl lying on the ground. She hadn't moved since their arrival.

Gai picked up the two unconscious rogues. "I'll take these two to the prison to have them questioned. Your job is to take the girl to the hospital. She is our first priority."

With that said, Gai sped off with the two rogues under his arms. Neji took it upon himself to keep a look out in case the rogues returned. Lee and Tenten went to help the girl. As they gently turned her on her back, her hair fell to her side.

"What the…"

"Wow." Lee looked in awe while Tenten was confused.

"Neji, come take a look at this!" Tenten called.

Neji faced his teammates with a sigh and walked to stand behind them. "What is it?"

"Look at her ears," Tenten told him. "How cool. I wonder where she's from."

The girl's ears were fairly normal. Except for the fact that they were pointed, which was fairly abnormal.

"It can't be…" Neji muttered, his eyes slightly wide.


The three genin were able to safely transport the unconscious girl to the hospital in Konoha. She was immediately put into treatment. Knowing she was in good hands, the team rendezvoused with their sensei to give their report to the Hokage.

"Well done, children," Hiruzen praised. "I thank you for bringing back the girl safely. Our patrols will keep a further eye out for the remaining rogues. I will have the ANBU question the ones you've detained. Good work."

"Thank you, sir," Tenten and Lee said. Neji was silent.

Hiruzen took notice. "You may leave."

Tenten and Lee both left, sending questioning looks to their teammate.

"I'll catch up," he muttered.

As the two left, they closed the door behind them.

"Something troubles you, Neji," Hiruzen said. "Is something wrong?"

Neji met Hiruzen's eyes. "It's her," he said.

"Her?"

Gai was still in the room, and he was also lost by what Neji said. "Who, Neji?"

"The girl we rescued today," Neji clarified.

"Yes?"

"It's Tsuki."